Final Score: Kings 3 – Blue Jackets 2
Game Summary
The Blue Jackets caught a break playing the Kings at this time, as the Kings are without their starting goalie Jonathan Quick and their back-up Jeff Zatkoff. They have been forced to go with Peter Budaj, their starter from the Ontario Reign, who the Cleveland Monsters beat in the playoffs last season.
The Kings, as they have done for many years now, dominated the possession game. They excel at controlling the puck and dictating the play. They suffocate the oppositions attack making it very difficult for teams to get shots. The Kings controlled 61.62% of the shots in the game, making things much easier for Budaj. The Jackets only had 21 shots on goal, their lowest total in a game thus far.
What the Blue Jackets did well was capitalize on the good chances they did have. Their first goal came off a really nice defensive play by Nick Foligno in the neutral zone. He poked the puck off of the Kings player and chipped it ahead to Brandon Saad. Saad went in on a two-on-one, looked pass the whole way, before rifling it top shelf.
For Saad that was his first goal of the season. He’s had a quiet start to the season but this is what happens with goal scorers, they through hot and cold stretches. He is still getting plenty of chances, averaging three shots per game; if he keeps that up he will be up around the 30 goal mark again easily. For Foligno that assist gives him five points in five games. He’s not scoring goals, just one, or getting shots on net, just three on the season, but he’s been dishing out the puck well. He needs to start getting pucks on net or he's going to be in for another goal scoring season like last year.
The Blue Jackets also capitalized on their power play. They had only one chance but managed to score on it thanks to this great pass from Sam Gagner.
The Blue Jackets power play has been on fire to start the season. Though five games the Jackets have had just 10 power play opportunities, the lowest in the league, but they have scored five power play goals, giving them the highest power play percentage in the league.
Gagner has always been a player who has excelled on the power play. Over the last two seasons (2014-2016) he has scored 3.24 points per 60 minutes on the power play. Comparable to players like Jaromir Jagr, Rick Nash and Brandon Saad. This assist was his first point as a Jacket. As long as Gagner keeps getting power play minutes he is going to keep scoring points.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of
Natural Stat Trick and
Hockey-Reference.
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